Major Projects Minister Paul Fletcher to announce second round of Western Sydney Local Road Package

Phoebe Moloney

Federal Major Projects Minister Paul Fletcher will announce on Friday the next round of local road projects in western Sydney to be funded as part of the Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan, a 10-year strategy aimed at increasing road capacity around the proposed Badgerys Creek airport site.

The second round of projects are worth about $65 million, a significant portion of the $200 million allocated to the five stage Western Sydney Local Road Package by the federal government.

Four of the nine announced local road upgrades are located on Erskine Park Road, dividing the suburbs of Erskine Park and St Clair. A further two will be located at intersections on Camden Valley Way.

Both roads will serve as arterial roads leading to major road projects, the Northern Road and proposed M12 motorway, adjacent to the Badgerys Creek site.

NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay said local councils were closely consulted in the selection of the project sites.

"The Australian and NSW governments will continue to work closely to progress planning for the new Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek, which will be central to economic growth and the ongoing creation of jobs in our local communities," he said.

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Mr Fletcher said the Local Roads Package would deliver benefits to the local community.

"This package will create jobs and enhance the safety, efficiency and connectivity of the local roads network in western Sydney, and will cut travel times for thousands of commuters," he said.

"It is a critical part of our two governments' $3.6 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan, and will ease congestion for drivers, meaning less time stuck in traffic."

Federal MP for Lindsay Fiona Scott said infrastructure in western Sydney had to be focused on the future.

"Sound planning is essential if we are to deliver world-class infrastructure for this growing region, which will grow by 1 million people in the next 20 years."

While the upgrades largely lie in the Camden and Penrith LGAs, the planning stages of road projects in Blacktown and Campbelltown have been announced.

A $16.4 million upgrade of Smithfield Street in Fairfield LGA will also be funded as part of the package.

Construction work on the projects is expected to begin in July.

So far $83 million has been spent as part of the Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan, announced in 2014, and funding is expected to exceed $200 million by the end of this financial year.